Pretty Cute Stamps September Challenge - Polka Dots!

There's a fun new challenge happening right now at the Pretty Cute Stamps blog - Polka Dots! I just love polka dots; they're just so FUN!

I used the stamp set Bushels Of Fun to create this pretty mixed media Fall card! Apples totally remind me of Fall, and I just love this set!

When I was doing Creative Chemistry 103 over the summer I created the panel for this card using a Distress MicroGlaze technique where I stamped my image on watercolour paper, coloured with Distress Markers and then applied the Distress MicroGlaze on top and around my image, creating a cool resist. Then, I spritzed Dylusions Sprays on my craft mat and applied my panel on top. This creates such a cool watercoloured background, but protects the original stamped image!

I stamped this sweet half apple on watercolour paper and coloured it in with Distress Markers before fussy cutting and placing it over my stamped sentiment and polka dot ribbon. The heart is also from the stamp set!

I used a polka dot stencil and transparent glaze to stencil circles on top of my panel. I added clear glitter on top before the glaze dried, creating some subtle, but sparkly dots! A few shiny sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps finish off my polka dot theme!

Inside, I used another watercoloured apple and added a cute little face. I added a polka dot border of the same paper I used on the front card base. I'm not sure exactly what occasion I'll use this card for yet, but it could certainly work for Thanksgiving, friend, birthday, and more!

Here's the adorable stamp set I used for my project -

Bushels Of Fun 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and be sure to head on over to the Pretty Cute Stamps blog to check out all the other Polka Dot Projects the amazing Design Team has come up with, and enter your own Pretty Cute Stamps project here using this month's theme for your chance to win a gift certificate!! You can also check out all the awesome stamps available at the Pretty Cute Stamps store - you'll be sure to find lots of goodies - perfect for this challenge!

FCCB #249- Welcome Spring

Welcome to another Challenge Me Monday...

Challenge #249 Welcome Spring
Make a project using whatever reminds you of Spring!

This Weeks Sponsor:

Winner will receive one Craftin Desert Diva's stamp set of their choice!

(USA address only)

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used. If you use a Cricut Explore machine, at least one cut must be from the Cricut catalog of images.

For my project this week I decided to make an art journal page. I used the Home For The Holidays Spring & Summer cartridge for the 'Spring Has Sprung' cut and the Florals Embellished cartridge for the flowers and butterfly. I cut everything from watercolour paper and then used Dylusions sprays on them to colour them in bright spring colours. I spritzed with Perfect Pearls spray mist over top of the Dylusions sprays to blend and add some shine - I love this effect!

My background pages were pages that I just had previously rubbed left over sprays on after stencilling other pages. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with these pages, and this turned out to be the perfect opportunity! I used a Heidi Swapp stencil and a shimmery gold spray over top of the background to spray the sunray stencil. I added Dylusions stamps and sentiments and then coloured them in with Dylusions sprays using a paint brush dipped directly into the spray. My diecut flowers are lined up down the middle of the first page, right in the middle of the sunray!

I used Mod Podge to layer the watercolour diecuts on my background after stamping and sponging the new Pistachio Distress Ink all over my pages.

 I hope Spring really has sprung here in Alberta, Canada! I'm ready for sure!!

Thanks so much for joining me today! Be sure to head over to the Fantabulous Cricut Blog and check out what all the other talented Design Team Members have done - and enter your own project with at least one Cricut cut! I hope you enjoy your week :)

Linked to:

Little Scrap Pieces -Show It Off Saturday

613 Avenue Create - AG (1st entry)

Create & Inspire - #18 AG (2nd entry)

Inspiration Destination - #28 AG

Party Time Tuesdays - #197 AG (1st entry)

4 Crafty Chicks - #241 Die Cuts (2nd entry)

Jo's Scrap Shack - #83 Florals & Butterflies

Little Red Wagon - #284 Spring Is In The Air

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - In the Middle (on my first page - diecut flowers)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - April Showers/Spring Flowers

Summer Card Camp 2 - Pre-class Challenge #2!

The second pre-class challenge for the Summer Card Camp 2 about to begin at Online Card Classes next week is a sketch challenge. 

 

For this challenge I decided on a grungy look, using Distress Inks and Dylusions Sprays (both favs of mine!) and a tag.  I sponged my card base and then stamped on it.  Then I sprayed my tag, over a stencil, with red and blue Dylusions Sprays and then sponged with Distress Inks and after drying misted again over a stencil with white spray. I added some vintage cut outs which I brushed some glossy medium on to make a bit shiny as well as some bakers twine, sprayed crinkle ribbon and added a paper flower.  For the banner I attached a sentiment from the same cut out sheet and edged it with white paint after distressing.

 

Be sure to check out Online Card Classes for some wonderful summer inspiration!

Dylusions Ink and Stencils

Just got a bunch of new Dylusions spray inks and a couple stencils this week and couldn't wait to try them out!! I really only had a few other spray inks so this was my mist splurge.

For my card I layered stencils and started spritzing right onto my kraft card and my envelope. I really like how the white linen spray is opaque and shows through. I love the teal colour of the main mist and used both the inside and out of the girl stencil to highlight each area. I was going for a spring feeling with the greens and flowers since we seem to be having a really hard time getting any springtime weather to stay here in Calgary - as I'm writing this large snowflakes are falling!

I also heat embossed circular flowers on the front of the card with Crystal embossing powder and versamark so they look more like a sparkly watermark image. Inside I stamped the chandelier with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink and then embossed with the Crystal powder. I also wanted to try out a technique tat Kate showed at the Scrapbookers Paradise store on Sunday - using foil with Zig Two-Way Glue. The trick is to let the glue air dry before applying the foil. I added to paper flowers and a brad to the top flower and stamped some images, including a crown on the girl on the envelope.

Challenges -
Scrapbookers Paradise - Add embossing
http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.ca/2013/04/playing-in-paradise-111-embossing.html

Simon Says Stamps - April showers/spring flowers
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/04/simon-says-april-showers-andor-spring.html